Can opener



June 13, 1939.

A. L. MAPLES 2,162,095

CAN OPENER Filed Oct. 10, 1938 I2 IN VENTOR.

A. L. MAPL\E$ ATTORNE Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to can openers.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel can opener for opening liquid containing cans of various heights and diameters.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can opener which is adapted to provide a pouring opening on one side of the top of the can. and a vent aperture diametrically opposite thereto, in one operation on cans of various sizes.

Another object of this invention is to provide'a can opener including a novel means whereby the can is securely clamped in place during the piercing operation.

Other objects and the advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a can opening device embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 44 Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 55 Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the can opener showing the position of the can after the handle has been depressed;

Fig. 'l is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation with parts broken away showing the position of the parts in solid lines before the handle is depressed and in dotted lines after the handle is depressed;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing how the can is gripped upon depressing the handle; and

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the plate.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters'I have shown my invention as embodied in a can opener which is indicated generally at l0. As shown the can opener includes a base II on which a pair of aligned supports l2 are secured as by rivets l3. The supports |2 include sides l4 which are fitted to the base and which are provided with inwardly directed annular flanges l5 arranged on the outer lower ends thereof. The upper ends of each of the flanges I5 is bevelled to form a tooth IS. The upper ends of the sides M are provided with integral ears l1 which are apertured to receive a pin |8 which latter engages apertures in ears IS on an arm 20 to pivotally support this arm.

The arm 20 includes a body portion 2| having sides 22 thereon and having an elongated slot 23 in which a piercing tooth member 24 is slidably mounted. The tooth member 24 includes a threaded end which receives a knurled thumb nut 25 to adjustably hold the piercing pin in place.

The inner end of the body 20 is provided with a perforating member 26 which is held in place by rivets 21. The member 26 includes a reinforcing rib 28 and its lower end includes a V- shaped cutting edge 29 and a piercing point 30. The outer end of the body portion 2| of the arm 20 is removed to provide portions 3| which are spaced apart and which engage a handle 32 the latter being held in place by a rivet 33.

The base H is provided with a plurality of spaced pins 34 which arefitted in slots 35 in a slidable plate 36 which includes a forwardly projecting tongue 31 notched as at 31 to provide clearance for a perforating member 26.

The arm 20 is normally urged upwardly by a coiled spring 38 which is arranged about the pin l8. The ends of the spring 38 has its free ends inserted in apertures 39 in the ears l9 on the arm 20. The coil spring 38 includes an intermediate portion 40 which projects rearwardly and engages under a tongue 4| on the plate 36 to normally urge the plate upwardly.

Each of the ears I9 is provided with a fiat surface 4| which engages the tongue 31 on the slidable plate 36. Thus this tongue 31 serves to hold the handle elevated and to limit its upward movement. The ears i9 further include inclined camming surfaces 42 which engage bevelled portions 43 on the outer ends of the tongue 31 so that as the handle is swung about the pin l8 the tongue 31 is moved downwardly.

The can opening device may be attached to the wall or other structure by means of screws or bolts inserted through apertures 44 provided in the base In operation the tooth 24 is spaced from the perforating cutter 26 a distance slightly less than the diameter of the can to be opened. The can is then placed against the angular flanges IS with the seam 45 of the can just above the teeth I6 as shown in solid lines in Fig. 7.

The arm 20 is then depressed causing the cam surface 42 to move the plate 36 and the can downward to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. As the can is urged down by the plate 36 the teeth l6 on the upper end of the flanges l5 are forced under the seam of the can as shown in Fig. 8 thereby securing the can in the proper position while the arm 20 completes its downward movement. As the motion continues the can is cut by the member 26 to provide a pouring opening and the tooth 24 punctures a vent aperture.

be removed from the opener device by a slight lifting and pulling action. a

It will thus be apparent that I have invented a novel can opener which can be economically manufactured and which is highly eflicieut for the intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a can opener, a base, spaced supports on said base, a handle member pivotally moimted on said supports, said supports having upwardly facing teeth thereon, a plate slidably mounted on said base, said handle including camming surfaces adapted to engage and shift said plate towards said teeth when the handle member is shifted, and a piercing member on said handle.

2. lnacanopenenabaseapairofspacedsupports on said base, a h e member, pivot means passing through said handle member and said supports, said supports having teeth on the upper ends thereof, a plate slidably mounted on said base, said handle including a portion engaging said plate to hold the handle elevated, said handle including camming surfaces engaging said plate to shift said plate downwardly when said handle member is shifted, said plate being disposed above said teeth, a piercing member on said handle adjacent said pivot, said handle having a slot, and punctiu'ing 7 means slidably mounted in said slot.-

3. In a can opener, a pair of spaced supports on said base, each of said supports having an ear thereon, a handle member, pivot means passing through said handle member and said support ears, said support having flanges thereon, the upper end of each of said flanges being sharpened to form a tooth, a plate slidably mounted on said base, said plate including a tongue, said handle ears including camming surfaces adapted to engage said tongue to shift said plate downwardly when the handle member is shifted, said plate tongue being disposed above said teeth, and a :liercing member on said handle adjacent said vot.

4. In a can opener, a base, a pair of spaced supports on said base, each of said supports having an ear thereon, a handle member having ears thereon, pivot means passing through said handle member ears and said support ears, said support having flanges thereon, the upper end of each of said flanges being sharpened to form a tooth,

a plate slidably mounted on said base, said plate including a tongue, said handle cars including a flat portion engaging said tongue, said handle ears including camming surfaces adapted to engage said tongue to-shift said plate downwardly when the handle member is shifted, said plate tongue being disposed above said teeth, a piercing member on said handle adjacent said pivot, said handle having a slot, and puncturing means slidably mounted in said slot.

5. In a can opener, a base, a pair of spaced supports on said base, each of said supports having an ear thereon, a handle member having ears thereon, pivot means passing through said handle member ears and said support ears, said support having flanges thereon, the upper end of each of said flanges being sharpened to form a tooth, a plate slidably mounted on said base, said plate including a tongue, spring means surrounding said pivot and engaging said handle to hold the latter elevated, said spring including a portion engaging said plate to hold the latter normally raised, said handle earseach including-a flat portion engaging said plate tongue, said handle ears including'camming surfaces adapted to engage said plate tongues to shift said plate downwardly when the handle member is shifted, said plate tongue being disposed above said teeth, whereby to force a can rim against the teeth, a piercing member on said handle adjacent said pivot, said handle having a slot, and puncturing means slidably mounted in said slot. AMOS L. MAPLES. 

